More a roadside business than a village, Valle Escondida (Carr. Fronteriza del Sur Km. 61, cell tel. 044-916/100-0399, busil_h [at] hotmail [dot] com) is arguably the best lodging and food between Palenque [1] and Frontera Corozal [2]. A fresh, well-prepared buffet breakfast (US$8 pp, daily from 7 a.m.) includes eggs, beans, coffee and juice, fresh fruit, handmade tortillas, and more, served in an open-air dining area beneath a thick forest canopy.
It can get crowded—just about every tour group stops here on the way to Bonampak [3] and Yaxchilán [4]—but makes a great pit stop nonetheless.
Valle Escondida’s handful of cabañas (US$80–100) are on the opposite side of the highway, near the owners’ ranch house. Deluxe units have king-size beds and two singles, high sloped ceilings and oversize windows, and a bathroom and shower tucked behind an attractive stone wall—truly a sight for sore eyes after a long day at the ruins.
Smaller units are perfectly comfortable, but lack the same charm. Service is friendly, though there’s no official reception desk; if the restaurant is closed, try knocking on the door of the main ranch house.
Valle Escondida is easy to spot if you pass before 10 a.m., as there’s always a collection of cars and tour buses pulled off along the shoulder in front. Otherwise, use the kilometer markers painted on the pavement as a reference (it’s at Kilometer 61), and look for the dark-green roadside sign on your right (coming from Palenque [1]).
It’s not in any particular town, but is located between Chancalá and the military checkpoint at the turnoff to Nueva Palestina [5].
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/palenque/palenque-town/palenque-archaeological-zone
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/the-rio-usumacinta-valley/along-the-carretera-fronteriza/frontera-corozal
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/the-rio-usumacinta-valley/bonampak-archaeological-zone
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/the-rio-usumacinta-valley/yaxchilan-archaeological-zone/yaxchilan-ruins
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/the-rio-usumacinta-valley/along-the-carretera-fronteriza/nueva-palestina